Hat Holder for Carrying Bags

ABSTRACT

A device for securing a headwear to a carrying bag utilizing a first holder attachable to the carrying bag and configured to secure the shading member of a headwear, and a second holder attachable to the carrying bag configured to secure the securing member of the headwear.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 61/657,529 entitled “Hat Holder for Carrying Bags,”filed Jun. 8, 2012, which application is incorporated in its entiretyhere by this reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a device for carrying headwear on a carryingbag.

BACKGROUND

An individual typically wears headwear to protect his head and face fromthe sun or as a fashion statement. At times there may be a need toremove the headwear for a prolonged period of time. When the individualis carrying a carrying bag, such as a luggage, backpack, duffel bag, andthe like, the individual may wish to attach the headwear to the carryingbag. In some instances the individual will unfasten the adjustable strapand re-fasten it onto the handle, strap, or a loop on the carrying bag.

Securing the headwear to the handle, strap, or loop of a carrying baghas several disadvantages. For example, repeatedly fastening andunfastening the adjustable strap can lead to damage to the strap,particularly if the adjustable strap is made of plastic. In addition,unfastening the adjustable strap will cause the individual to readjustthe sizing of his headwear when he is ready to put the headwear back on.Also, when the headwear is fastened to the handle, strap, or loop of thecarrying bag, the hat tends to dangle. If the bag is placed on theground, often times the hat ends up on the dirty floor and is exposed tobeing stepped on by others.

As an alternative, the individual may stuff the headwear into the bag.This, however, can lead to damage to the headwear. In addition, it makesit difficult to access.

Therefore, there is a need for a device that allows individual toquickly and easily attach headwear to a carrying bag while keeping theheadwear readily accessible yet free from damage or being dirtied.

SUMMARY

The present invention is directed to a device that permits a headwear tobe attached to a carrying back. The device comprises two holdersattachable to a carrying bag. In the preferred embodiment, the firstfolder attaches to the bill of a headwear and the second holder attachesto the back portion of the headwear.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a backpack with an embodiment of the presentinvention attached.

FIG. 2 shows the embodiment in FIG. 1 in use.

FIG. 3 shows a partial cross-section view of the carrying bag along line3-3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appendeddrawings is intended as a description of presently-preferred embodimentsof the invention and is not intended to represent the only forms inwhich the present invention may be constructed or utilized. Thedescription sets forth the functions and the sequence of steps forconstructing and operating the invention in connection with theillustrated embodiments. It is to be understood, however, that the sameor equivalent functions and sequences may be accomplished by differentembodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spiritand scope of the invention.

The hat holder of the present invention provides a means for carrying aheadwear (e.g. a cap, a hat, a visor, and the like) on a carrying bag(e.g. a backpack, a suitcase, a duffel bag, and the like). Headwear 10come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but are generally comprised of asecuring means 12 and a shading means 14.

The securing means 12 is the portion of the headwear 10 that is placedon the head to provide covering and/or protection to the head and/or asa means for securing the shading means 14 to the head. As such, thesecuring means 12 is generally semi-spherical in shape, terminating at aperimeter edge 16 defining a circular opening through which the head canbe inserted. On a baseball cap-type headwear, for example, the securingmeans 12 would be the crown and panels. Though the securing means 12 maybe symmetrical or uniform in shape, for the purposes of clarity and easeof discussion, the securing means 12 may be designated as having a frontportion 18 adjacent to the front portion of the head, two opposite sideportions 20, 22 adjacent to the sides of the head, respectively, and aback portion 24 adjacent to the back of the head. In some embodiments,the securing means 12 may simply be the perimeter edge 16 defined by aloop, string, ring, band, or the like, as seen on visors.

The shading means 14 is the portion of the headwear 10 that extendsoutwardly from the securing means 12 to hide the wearer's face and/orneck from the sun or onlookers. In some headwear 10, the shading means14 may extend radially outward from the entire perimeter edge 16. Inother headwear, the shading means 14 may project outwardly only from thefront portion 18. On a baseball cap, for example, the shading means 14would be the bill.

In some embodiments, the headwear 10 comes with a means for adjustingthe size of the headwear 10 so as to fit a variety of head sizes. Forexample, along the perimeter edge 16 on the back side there may be anadjustable closure system 25 to effectively reduce the opening definedby the perimeter edge 16. In some embodiments, the closure system may bea part of the perimeter edge 16 on the back portion 24. For example, inan unfitted baseball cap, the back portion 24 has a half-circle openingdefined by an adjustable strap, such as a buckle, plastic snap, orVelcro® closure system.

A carrying bag 50 can generally be described as having a top side 52, abottom side 54 opposite the top side 52, two lateral sides 56 (only oneshown) opposite each other and adjacent to the top 52 and bottom sides54, and front 58 and back sides 60 opposite each other, and adjacent tothe top 52, bottom 54, and two lateral sides 56. Typically, carryingbags 50 may further comprise a handle 62, shoulder straps 64, and aclosure system 66. Examples of carrying bags 50 that may be used withthe present invention include, but are not limited to, backpacks, duffelbags, suitcases, tote bags, sports bags, diaper bags, and the like.

The hat clip system of the present invention can be used to avoidcurrent problems associated with carrying a headwear 10 on or in acarrying bag 50. As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the hat clip system comprisestwo holders 100, 200 strategically placed on the carrying bag 50 toefficiently, effectively, and easily carry a piece of headwear 10. Inthe preferred embodiment, the first holder 100 and the second holder 200may be linearly aligned on one side 56 of the carrying bag 50. Forexample, as shown in FIG. 1, the first holder 100 and the second holder200 are linearly aligned on one of the sides 56 of a backpack. In otherwords, the first holder 100 defines a first longitudinal axis A, and thesecond holder 200 defines a second longitudinal axis B, wherein thefirst longitudinal axis A and the second longitudinal axis B arelinearly aligned or collinear.

The distance between the first holder 100 and the second holder 200 isgenerally dictated by the distance between the front end 30 of theshading means 14 and the back portion of the securing means 12.Generally, the first holder 100 holds the shading means 14 and thesecond holder 200 holds the securing means 12 at the back portion 24 asshown in FIG. 2. In the preferred embodiment, the second holder 200holds the headwear 10 at the adjustable closure system 25. This allowsfor the easiest means for attaching the headwear 10 to the carrying bag50 while minimizing any damage to the headwear 10.

Each holder 100, 200 comprises its own support 102, 202 and retainingarm 104, 204 connected to their respective support 102, 202. Eachsupport 102, 202 is fastened to the carrying bag 50 and each retainingarm 104, 204 connects to the headwear 10. The supports 102, 202 can bemade of any material and fastened to the carrying bag 50 by any fastener150, reversible or irreversible. For example, the supports 102, 202 maybe a piece of fabric, wood, metal, plastic, synthetic fiber, and thelike. Irreversible fasteners include glue, adhesives, stitches, rivets,and the like. Reversible fasteners include hook-and-loop fasteners, snapbuttons, hooks, zippers, screws, bolts, and like.

Utilizing reversible fasteners has the advantage of improvingversatility of the holders 100, 200 by permitting the holders 100, 200to be positioned at various distances from each other to accommodateheadwear 10 of different sizes. For example, the side 56 of the carryingbag 50 may comprise a long strip of hooks or loops of a hook-and-loopfastener 150. The supports 102, 202 may comprise the reciprocal loops orhooks 152 of the hook-and-loop fastener. Therefore, the two supports100, 200 can be fastened to the backpack 50 on the strip at variousdistances from each other within the length of the strip 150.

The retaining arms 104, 204 of each holder 100, 200 may be the same ormay differ in characteristics due to the differences between the shadingmeans 14 of a headwear and the back portion 24 of the headwear.

In the preferred embodiment, the first holder 100 is configured tosecure the shading means 14, particularly for shading means that aregenerally rigid or semi-rigid like the bill of baseball caps and visors.Therefore, the first retaining arm 104 of the first holder 100 may beconnected to the first support 102 at one end, leaving a free end 106 atthe opposite end. The first retaining member 104 is connected to thefirst support 102 in such a way as to create a biasing force towards thefirst support 102 to create a resistance fit for the shading means 14 inbetween the first support 102 and the first retaining arm 104. In otherwords, the first retaining arm 104 and the first support 102 may form agenerally “U”-shaped or hook-shaped configuration so that the firstretaining arm 104 can pinch the shading means 14 against the firstsupport 102. In some embodiments, the free end 106 may pucker or bendoutwardly away from the first support 102 to facilitate sliding theshading means 14 in between the first support 102 and first retainingarm 104. By utilizing a retaining arm 104 having some structuralintegrity, the shading means 14 of the headwear 10 is protected duringtransport, where it would otherwise be susceptible to crushing. In thepreferred embodiment, the length of the first retaining arm 104 isapproximately the length of shading means 14 so that the free end 106abuts the front portion 18 of the headwear 10 when properly seated asshown in FIG. 2.

In some embodiments, the first retaining arm 104 may not necessarily bebiased towards the first support 102. The first retaining arm 104 maysimply provide an open ledge 108, created by the U-shaped bend 110, uponwhich the shading means 14 can rest without any biasing force.

The second holder 200 is configured to hold the back portion 24 of aheadwear 10. Like the first holder 100, the second holder 200 comprisesa support portion 202 that attaches to the carrying bag 50. As such, thesecond support 202 may have the same or similar characteristics as thefirst support 102. The second holder 200 also has a retaining arm 202having a first end 212 attached to the second support 202, and a secondend 214 opposite the first end 212. In some embodiments, the secondretaining arm 204 of the second holder 200 may be the same as or similarto the first retaining arm 104 of the first holder 100. Thus, the secondretaining arm 204 may be a hook or a hook biased towards the secondsupport member 202.

The backside of most caps and visors have a hole defined by a portion ofthe back of the cap or visor and the adjustable strap. The secondretaining arm 204 of the second holder 200 may be inserted through thehole defined by the back of the cap and the adjustable strap, and thebill 14 of the cap can be inserted into the first retaining arm 104 ofthe first holder 100. This secures the headwear 10 on to the carryingbag 50 without deforming the headwear.

In some embodiments, the second retaining arm 204 of the second holder200 may be movably connected to the second support 202. For example, thesecond retaining arm 204 of the second holder 200 may be hingedly,elastically, or flexibly connected to the second support 202, therebypermitting an open configuration and a closed configuration. The closedconfiguration would be where the second support 202 and second retainingarm 204 are adjacent and parallel to each other, thereby forming aU-shaped configuration with a very narrow gap between the second support202 and the second retaining arm 204. The gap is sufficiently narrow toobstruct the removal of the headwear 10. Alternatively, the closedconfiguration may be where the second end 214 of the second retainingarm 204 is attached to the second support 202 or the carrying back 50.In the embodiment where the second retaining arm 204 is hingedlyconnected to the second support 202, a spring may bias the secondretaining arm 204 towards the second support 202. The second retainingarm 204 rotates about the hinge that connects the second retaining arm204 to the second support 202 to be in the closed or open configuration.

In the embodiment where the second retaining arm 20 is elasticallyconnected to the second support 202, the junction 206 between the secondsupport 202 and the second retaining arm 204 may have a bend causing thesecond retaining arm 204 to bias towards the second support 202. Toplace the second retaining arm 204 in the open configuration, the userneed only to pull the second retaining arm 204 away from the secondsupport 202. In the elastic connection, the bend deforms slightly to anopen configuration. Release of the second retaining arm 204 would causethe second retaining arm 204 to rotate back to its original positioneither due to a spring or due to the elasticity in the bend. Theelasticity may be due to the material used to create the bend. Forexample, the second retaining arm 204 and second support 202 may be madeof a material that allows the second retaining arm 204 to be pulled awayfrom the second support 202 without causing damage, such as metal orplastic. Due to the elastic property, however, upon release of thesecond retaining arm 204, the second retaining arm 204 would return backto its normal position abutting or adjacent to the second support 202.

In embodiments in which the second retaining arm 204 is flexiblyconnected to the second support 202, the second support 202 may be thesame as or similar to the previous embodiments discussed above; however,the second retaining arm 204 may be made of a non-rigid material, suchas a synthetic or non-synthetic fabric or textile material and the like.The second retaining arm 204 and second support 202 may also have afastener 208, 210 to allow the second retaining arm 204 to fasten to thesecond support 202 or the bag 50. The second retaining arm 204 can thenbe looped through the hole in the back of the headwear created by theadjustable strap and secured to the second support 202 to retain theback portion of the hat 10 against the carrying bag 50 and/or the secondsupport 202. The second retaining arm 204 can be secured to the secondsupport 202 or the carrying bag 50 with a quick-release fastener such asa hook-and-loop fastener, snap button, magnets, and the like.

In an alternate embodiment, the second retaining arm 204 may directlyabut or bias against the carrying bag 50 instead of the second support202. For example, the second retaining arm 204 may be positionedgenerally 180 degrees relative to the second support 202 so that thesecond retaining arm 204 extends from the second support 202 in theopposite direction of the second support 202, but along the carrying bag50. Therefore, rather than clipping or hooking the adjustable strap ofthe headwear 10 against the second support 202, the adjustable strap isdirectly clipped or hooked against the carrying bag 50 wall 56. Thesecond retaining arm 204 may secure the adjustable strap to the carryingbag 50 with a biasing mechanism or a fastener as discussed above.

In use, the user simply inserts the shading means 14 into the firstholder 100 by wedging the shading means in between the first support 102and the first retaining member 104. The first retaining member 104 mayhave to be pulled back in order to insert the shading means 14. Once theshading means 14 is secured, the user can insert the second retainingmember 204 through the hole in the headwear 10 at the back of thesecuring means, and optionally, fasten the second retaining member 204to the second support 202.

The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the inventionhas been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. Itis not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to theprecise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possiblein light of the above teaching. It is intended that the scope of theinvention not be limited by this detailed description, but by the claimsand the equivalents to the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:
 1. A carrying bag with a headwear carrying holder, comprising: a. a top side; b. a bottom side opposite the top side, c. two lateral sides opposite each other and adjacent to the top and bottom sides; d. a front side adjacent to the top side, bottom side, and two lateral sides; and e. a back side opposite the front side, and adjacent to the top side, bottom side, and two lateral sides, wherein at least one of the lateral sides, comprises: i. a first holder comprising a first support attached to the carrying bag and a first retaining arm attached to the first support, the first holder configured to receive a shading means of the headwear; and ii. a second holder attached a distance apart from the first holder, the second holder comprising a second support attached to the carrying bag and a second retaining arm attached to the second support, the second retaining arm configured to receive a back side of the headwear.
 2. The headwear holding device of claim 1, wherein the first retaining arm of the first holder is connected to the first support by a U-shaped bend to create an open ledge upon which the shading means can rest.
 3. The headwear holding device of claim 1, wherein the first and second supports are attached to the carrying bag by reversible fasteners.
 4. The headwear holding device of claim 1, wherein the first retaining arm creates a biasing force against the first support to create a resistance fit for the shading means of the headwear in between the first support and the first retaining arm.
 5. The headwear holding device of claim 1, wherein the second retaining arm directly abuts against the carrying bag.
 6. The headwear holding device of claim 1, wherein the second retaining arm of the second holder is movably connected to the second support, thereby creating an open configuration and a closed configuration.
 7. A headwear holding device for a carrying bag, comprising: a. a first holder attached to the carrying bag, the first holder defining a first axis; and b. a second holder attached to the carrying bag a distance apart from the first holder, the second holder defining a second axis, wherein the first axis and the second axis are collinear, c. wherein the first holder comprises a first support attached to the carrying bag and a first retaining arm attached to the first support, wherein the first retaining arm is connected to the first support by a U-shaped bend to create an open ledge upon which a shading means of a headwear can rest; d. wherein the second holder comprises a second support attached to the carrying bag and a second retaining arm attached to the second support wherein the second retaining arm of the second holder is movably connected to the second support, thereby creating an open configuration and a closed configuration.
 8. The headwear holding device of claim 7, wherein the first and second supports are attached to the carrying bag by reversible fasteners.
 9. The headwear holding device of claim 7, wherein the first retaining arm creates a biasing force against the first support to create a resistance fit for the shading means of the headwear in between the first support and the first retaining arm.
 10. The headwear holding device of claim 7, wherein the second retaining arm directly abuts against the carrying bag.
 11. A headwear holding device for a carrying bag, comprising: a. a first holder attached to the carrying bag; and b. a second holder attached to the carrying bag a distance apart from the first holder, c. wherein the first holder comprises a first support attached to the carrying bag and a first retaining arm attached to the first support, d. wherein the second holder comprises a second support attached to the carrying bag and a second retaining arm attached to the second support.
 12. The headwear holding device of claim 11, wherein the first retaining arm of the first holder is connected to the first support by a U-shaped bend to create an open ledge upon which a shading means of a headwear can rest.
 13. The headwear holding device of claim 11, wherein the first and second supports are attached to the carrying bag by reversible fasteners.
 14. The headwear holding device of claim 11, wherein the first retaining arm creates a biasing force against the first support to create a resistance fit for a shading means of a headwear in between the first support and the first retaining arm.
 15. The headwear holding device of claim 11, wherein the second retaining arm directly abuts against the carrying bag.
 16. The headwear holding device of claim 11, wherein the second retaining arm of the second holder is movably connected to the second support, thereby creating an open configuration and a closed configuration.
 17. The headwear holding device of claim 11, wherein the second holder comprises a fastener to secure the second retaining member in a closed configuration. 